5. A Sneaky Plan

As Kirsty, Rachel, and Crystal watched, the goblin sneezed loudly. "A-CCCH-O-O-O!" When the goblin sneezed, a shower of ice cubes clattered to the floor. They began to melt, leaving behind little puddles of water. "The goblin doesn't know how to use the magic feather properly," Crystal whispered.

Kirsty and Rachel were a little frightened. Because of Jack Frost's spell, the goblin was now pretty big. He looked very scary with his mean face, pointed ears, and big, flat feet. The goblin huddled closer to the fire. He was grumbling and rubbing his toes. "I'm so cold," he moaned. "And my feet hurt!" Crystal smiled. "Goblins hate to have cold feet!" she murmured. "How are we going to get the feather back?" asked Kirsty. "Let's fly around the house and look for a way in," Rachel suggested. They flew around, checking all the windows and doors. But everything was locked. They could still hear the goblin muttering about his cold feet.

Kirsty grinned. "I have an idea!" she said. "Dad just decided to give away a pair of slippers that were too small for him. If I wrap them up in a box, I can deliver the package to the goblin. Then he'll open the door for us, and we can get inside." "Perfect!" Crystal agreed, as her wand fizzed sparkly snowflakes. "The goblin won't be able to resist a present. And if Rachel and I hide inside the box, maybe we can get the feather back."

Quickly, they all flew back to the Tates' house. With a wave of her wand, Crystal turned Kirsty human-sized again. Then she and Rachel hid inside Kirsty's pockets. Kirsty let herself quietly into the house and found the slippers, which her dad had put in a pile to give away. Then she wrapped the slippers in lots of tissue paper and put them in a shoe box. "You can come out now," she whispered to Crystal and Rachel. Luckily, all the parents were chatting with Mrs. Fordham in the living

room, and hadn't heard a thing. Crystal and Rachel flew into the shoe box and hid under the tissue paper. Kirsty popped the lid back on the box and wrapped it neatly in brown paper. Then she set off again for Willow Hill. She couldn't fly up the hill with the package, so she had to walk. By the time she reached Willow Cottage, Kirsty was out of breath and wet with snow. "We're here," she said quietly to Crystal and Rachel. Then she took a deep breath, knocked on the door, and waited.

There was no reply. Kirsty knocked again. "Delivery!" she called. "Go away!" the goblin shouted. Kirsty tried again. "Some nice warm slippers for Mr. Goblin!" she said loudly. This time the door opened, just a crack. Kirsty held the package out. The door opened wider, and a bony hand shot out and grabbed the box.